A School Age Payment is a £314.45 payment made around the time a child normally starts Primary 1 to help with the costs of a child starting school.
Who can get School Age Payment?
You can apply for the School Age Payment if:
- you have a child starting Primary this August (or deferred by 1 year)
- you live in Scotland whether you are in work or not
- you are the parent or carer of the child and in receipt of one of the following benefits:
- Universal Credit
- Income Support
- Income Related Job Seekers Allowance
- Income Related Employment Support Allowance
- Pension Credit
- Housing Benefit
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit
- you are under 18 you are automatically eligible and don't have to be on a qualifying benefit
- you are 18 or 19, in full time education or training and dependent on someone else like a parent or carer who is claiming child benefit, child tax credit, pension credit or universal credit for you.
How many children qualify for School Age Payment in each family?
Every child in a qualifying family will get a payment.
What age must the child be to qualify for the School Age Payment?
The application window for children born between 01 March 2019 and 29 February 2020 opens on 01 June 2024 and closes 28 February 2025.
I deferred my child, can I still apply?
Yes, you can still apply if your child was deferred as long as they were born between 01 March 2020 and 28 February 2021. You can apply between 01 June 2025 and closes 28 February 2026.
How to apply
By telephone:
You can also download and print a paper copy to post back. The address to send your completed form are on the form.
If English is not your first language, you can apply over the phone or ask for a paper form to be sent to you, in any of over 100 languages.